title: Application of internal fixation of steel-wire limited loop in early Achilles tendon rupture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the clinical effect and safety of internal fixation of steel-wire limited loop in early Achilles tendon rupture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six patients respectively with early transected and avulsed types of Achilles tendon rupture were selected and treated with internal fixation of steel-wire limited loop. The patients began to take exercise for their lower limbs through continous passive motion as early as possible after surgical repair, and the loops were removed after 3-5 months. Six months later, the condition of complications including Achilles tendon re-rupture, wound fistula, wound infection and skin necrosis, cutaneous sensation in sural nerve dominance region, time back to preinjury work or learning as well as time to physical activities were observed. One year later, the therapeutic effect was evaluated, and the maximum circumferences of bilateral legs and ruptured plane circumferences of Achilles tendon were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The wound of all patients healed well, no complications like Achilles tendon re-rupture, wound fistula, wound infection and skin necrosis occured, and the cutaneous sensation in sural nerve dominance region was normal. The mean time back to preinjury work or learning as well as to pysical activities of all patients were respectively 10 and 22 weeks. Seventy out of 76 patients (92.1%) achieved an excellent effect, and 6 (7.9%) good effect. The excellent and good rate came up to 100%. The maximum circumference in the affected leg decreased to 2 mm averagely compared with the offside, while the ruptured plane circumferences of Achilles tendon in the affected side increased to 2.2 mm compared with the offside.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For early Achilles tendon rupture, internal fixation of steel-wire limited loop can recover the ankle function better, return to the preinjury state in the shortest time, and has few complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address: cz6851@sina.com.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jia-Sen
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Zhao-Yang
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Jiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yan-Guang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Qi-Xin
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012421:Rupture / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013232:Steel; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing
chemical_list: D013232:Steel
keywords: Achilles tendon rupture; Ankle function; Internal fixation; Steel–wire limited loop